2024 NBA DRAFT THREAD 2

[WuTang_CMB]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

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[Dalek]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

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He just looks so physically ready to play in the NBA and he seems like a good player finisher. However, I haven't seen any on-ball creation or even a lot of swing passes. A negative assist to turnover ratio and a fairly upright defensive stance worry me. I feel like we are going for a more well-rounded player given our recent trades and signings and play style.

[Dalek]

Most of these guys available with the 2 picks currently are role players. Team has to make a decision on strategy, go for a role player that can facilitate future trade or swing for the fences?

Can get role players like JFL, Carton, Jontay Porter for just the minimum. Use the MLE on a player, not half-sign someone like McDaniels, hoping they'll be an MLE level player.

Pacers: Furphy, Tyler Smith, Ware, Ivisic (swing for fence)

#32: Ivisic, Kolek, Dillon Jones, Jaylon Tyson, Hunter Salis, Mevlin Ajinca, Carrington (role player).

I'd add Ulrich Chomche to the swing for the fence player. He is BWB star player and likely entering this draft. Given our history with Cameroon you think he would be on the radar. Kid is 6'11 with 7'4 wingspan and can block shot and hit threes. I heard he is a lock to play at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. I expect his stock will go up after he is seen in the States going up against Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey.

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[WuTang_CMB]

Reed is top 5 for me ... maybe top 3 once I get to June. Just an outstanding year. numbers, talent, translate all jive for me

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[WuTang_CMB]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

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He just looks so physically ready to play in the NBA and he seems like a good player finisher. However, I haven't seen any on-ball creation or even a lot of swing passes. A negative assist to turnover ratio and a fairly upright defensive stance worry me. I feel like we are going for a more well-rounded player given our recent trades and signings and play style.

I think some teams may see just a bobby portis ceiling type that they dont want to truly develop on the offensive end and have the patience. Can hit the 3, run some in transition, play within an offense, but not much creation. I think teams like Utah, Raps would gladly take him and develop him. Love his ceiling in a draft like this. Dont think he makes it to Indiana's pick though

[Mark_83]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

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Athletic, 6'10 wing with a 7'4 wingspan, who can shoot from 3 at only 18years old. He's not Giannis, but those measurables are ridiculous, and he's likely still growing. Unfortunately, we won't have a chance to pick him so best to move on.

[WuTang_CMB]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

Watch on YouTube

Athletic, 6'10 wing with a 7'4 wingspan, who can shoot from 3 at only 18years old. He's not Giannis, but those measurables are ridiculous, and he's likely still growing. Unfortunately, we won't have a chance to pick him so best to move on.

I see 7'1" wingpspan. where do you see 7'4"

[Mark_83]

Tidjane defensive awareness much improved in this game. Still really like him to translate.

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Athletic, 6'10 wing with a 7'4 wingspan, who can shoot from 3 at only 18years old. He's not Giannis, but those measurables are ridiculous, and he's likely still growing. Unfortunately, we won't have a chance to pick him so best to move on.

I see 7'1" wingpspan. where do you see 7'4"

https://nbadraftroom.com/p/2024-nba-mock-draft/
Right now he reminds me of Isaiah Roby/Kevin Knox with room to develop.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I'm kinda coming around on Trey Alexander BITH, if you put him side by side with McCain I can see a ton of reasons why he makes a lot more sense and McCain is only 9 months younger. The improvement in ball distribution is the only reason I can overall look at him in a positive light now and I'm willing to disregard his start to the year. He has taken a giant leap in overall gameplay despite the season shooting splits that should be acknowledged by all. His AST/TO and 2pt fg% recently is godly. I'm impressed.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I'm kinda coming around on Trey Alexander BITH, if you put him side by side with McCain I can see a ton of reasons why he makes a lot more sense and McCain is only 9 months younger. The improvement in ball distribution is the only reason I can overall look at him in a positive light now and I'm willing to disregard his start to the year. He has taken a giant leap in overall gameplay despite the season shooting splits that should be acknowledged by all. His AST/TO and 2pt fg% recently is godly. I'm impressed.

[wherescomegys]

Sallis giving me strong Gary vibes.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I'm surprised nobody really talks about Dylan Disu at all, him and Ledee are interesting older players. I would be happy if Masai brought Disu in as a UDFA. Unconventional in many ways but he's productive and had a 5+ DBPM last year and a 5+ OBPM this year while shooting from 3 and stripe like a boss for a guy his height. He has fouling issues though which is why he's gonna be a UDFA combined with age and positional questions. Nevertheless he can ball.

[Dalek]

I'm surprised nobody really talks about Dylan Disu at all, him and Ledee are interesting older players. I would be happy if Masai brought Disu in as a UDFA. Unconventional in many ways but he's productive and had a 5+ DBPM last year and a 5+ OBPM this year while shooting from 3 and stripe like a boss for a guy his height. He has fouling issues though which is why he's gonna be a UDFA combined with age and positional questions. Nevertheless he can ball.

Disu reminds me of the Raps 905's Kevin Obanor. Seems like a winning player who has an NBA-ready body.

Another guy I have really liked for years and is an older prospect is Emanuel Miller from TCU, the brother of Leonard Miller. He is up to 49/41/81 and is an elite defender IMO. He will be 24 after the draft so definitely a two-way candidate.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I'm surprised nobody really talks about Dylan Disu at all, him and Ledee are interesting older players. I would be happy if Masai brought Disu in as a UDFA. Unconventional in many ways but he's productive and had a 5+ DBPM last year and a 5+ OBPM this year while shooting from 3 and stripe like a boss for a guy his height. He has fouling issues though which is why he's gonna be a UDFA combined with age and positional questions. Nevertheless he can ball.

Disu reminds me of the Raps 905's Kevin Obanor. Seems like a winning player who has an NBA-ready body.

Another guy I have really liked for years and is an older prospect is Emanuel Miller from TCU, the brother of Leonard Miller. He is up to 49/41/81 and is an elite defender IMO. He will be 24 after the draft so definitely a two-way candidate.

Disu is 35 for 66 (53%) from downtown this year, that's pretty impressive. It's too bad he's so small for PF and fouls a ton but he can really stroke it and is disruptive on D. Anyone who likes Ivisic has to hope he isn't a C with similar issues in 3 years.

[Ell Curry]

People are saying OKC for good reason. They have too many picks and need elite role players or high end stars to really be worth it to them.

They just cut the 17th pick from two years ago. They've jettisoned other late first round talent.

They are likely to take a high upside shot with one of their late lottery picks. I don't think they will be concerned with a high bust rate to be honest.

Or maybe they'll move both picks and 3 more firsts for Markkannen or Bridges, or both picks for Jerami Grant or who knows, though any team that does that kind of thing is probably looking for high-upside picks for a long rebuild, so that doesn't really hurt the odds of a project like Salaun going ahead of us.

The Thunder do have Dieng still as a big to wing to develop, so maybe they surprise us and grab Filipowski to let them have 48 minutes of stretchy 5 play (great for SGA and Williams as slashers) and Knecht, which wouldn't be very like them, but I didn't think they'd go for Hayward instead of a rebounder at the deadline either, and they seem very into shooting around SGA and Williams as their current path.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Well, well, well

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[Thaddy]

If we can get Salaun with a retained top 6 pick and Ivisic with the other I'd view this as a very successful draft. I don't think they'll be stars but very solid role players.

[Mark_83]

Getting one of Ware or Ivisic would make me very happy. We have the perfect veteran bigs in Yak and Kelly to develop them under. And either would be an excellent fit next to Scottie if they meet projections. I'd add Yang to that list as well.

[Jstock12]

Off-the-radar because he is playing in the NBL is Mantas Rubštavičius. He is a Lithuanian wing that looks like an NBA player who is listed at 6'7 and is 21. Currently, in the NBL he averages:

9 PPG
1 AST
2 REB

52% from the field
43% from three (on three attempts)
81% from the line

I like the NBL because you can watch full games online and what stands out for this kid is that he is really poised and not just a shooter. He is a decisive decision maker when attacking closeouts, can kick out to shooters and looks strong enough and willing to take it to the rim. To me, he reminds me of a Lith' version of the Hawks' Bogdanovic - a tall do-it-all wing.

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He is on the Breakers which aren't usually a team that gives a ton of minutes. Rayan Rupert averaged less minutes and scored much less last year. Mantas is a bit older at 21, but he has LKL, Eurocup and NT experience. This is a very well-rounded basketball player that is built for NBA spacing.

Related to the NBL, we should bring Brice Cotton to be a back-up here. He is really too good for that league.

Mantas is my hometown product. Dude has that dawg in him. There's a story I heard from his childhood that when there was some game coming up, he got ill and wasn't allowed to go he started crying Kid loves basketball and competing. I'm not sure if he's quite the 1st round talent, but in the second half of the 2nd round he might become a steal for some team. One more thing to mention about him, is that he's extremely good at drawing fouls and embeleshing contact. He's a natural at it. It's very tough to not get baited into fouling him.

Speaking of Lithuanians, Buzelis just had a nice game with 24/13 & 4 BLK. Seeing him with 3-4 steals+blocks every game is almost becoming a norm.

[Indeed]

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Yeah I'm sorry this **** is seriously impressive

His mid-range shots are very questionable, couple of mid-range fade-away, forcing a little bit. However, when he is playing on the arc, he makes good read, making the right pass to the open player, even cross court.

I think he is the Darko type of guy, high IQ on both end, but unsure he is tough enough to defend his position. Unlikely to be Ujiri type of guy, but we may draft him for Darko. Maybe a Bogdanović type of player.

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